Journalists' Alternative Syndicate. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — The Alternative Press syndicate in Lebanon, in tandem with other human rights organizations, sent a letter to United Nations head Antonio Guterres on Friday calling on him to disclose UNIFIL's full investigation into the killing of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah in an Israeli strike on southern Lebanon.
On Oct. 13, the Israeli army attacked an area where journalists were set up and reporting, killing Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and severely injuring an AFP journalist Christina Assi, among others.
As far as what has been disclosed about the UNIFIL investigation, it was found that Israeli artillery fired two 120mm rounds at the group of “clearly identifiable journalists," in a clear violation of international law.
The syndicate and other human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also consider the attack a violation of UN Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.
Reuters viewed a report sharing a summary of the investigation that said its personnel did not record any exchange of fire across the border between Israel and Lebanon for more than 40 minutes before the Israeli Merkava tank opened fire.
Two Al-Mayadeen journalists (a Hezbollah-affiliated TV channel) Farah Omar and Rabih Me'mari were also killed by Israel in late November.
Israel has systematically targeted journalists in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict.